Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to unveil plans for a major overhaul of the asylum appeals system, replacing judges with trained members of the public to decide cases. The proposed Independent Immigration Appeals Authority (IIAA) will consist of professionally trained and independently appointed adjudicators from diverse backgrounds, operating in a magistrate-style capacity.
New Body to Prioritise Public Interest Cases
Detailed in the forthcoming Immigration and Asylum Bill, the IIAA will focus on cases deemed clearly without merit, as well as those involving high-harm offenders and matters of public interest. The aim is to expedite the process and counter accusations that legal battles are being used as delay tactics. The new body could begin operations as late as 2027.
Mahmood pledged to remove 45,000 failed claimants and foreign offenders, a key driver behind the reforms. She stated: 'Today, our appeals tribunal is overwhelmed. As a result, people are gaming the system, lodging vexatious appeals to frustrate their removal. Our new appeals body will ensure claims are heard swiftly and fairly. Those with a legitimate claim will get their hearing. Those who have no right to remain in this country, and are abusing the system, will be swiftly removed.'
Expansion of Removal Centres
Alongside the appeals overhaul, Mahmood plans to expand two immigration removal centres. Haslar in Gosport will see capacity increase from 130 to 600 beds. Campsfield in Oxfordshire, which opened in December, is set to expand from 160 to 400 beds. These expansions aim to accommodate the increased removal rate expected from the new appeals process.
The reforms are part of a broader effort to restore trust in the asylum system, which Mahmood argues has been undermined by abuse and delays. The Home Office estimates that thousands of cases could be resolved more quickly under the new system, reducing the burden on the courts and taxpayers.
